Lamp receptacle



y 17, 1934- Y M. N. RUSSELL I 1,966,563

LAMP REQEPTACLE Filed Oct. 8, 1928 Patented July 17, 1934 LAMP BECEPTACLE Mark N. Russell, Syracuse, N. Y., assignmto Pass & Seymour, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October-8, 1928, Serial No. 311,194 Claims (01. 173-358) This invention relates to electric lamp receptacles and more particularly to such receptacles adapted for decorative purposes where a number of incandescent lamps are to be suspended from I conductor wires and arranged in festoons and the like or hung from trees or shrubbery.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved receptacle of the type described. I

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle having a body portion and a 'cap, means being provided to permit the passage of conductors between these parts, the contact between the conductors and 16 the terminals of the receptacle resulting from pressure of the cap on the conductors.

An important feature of the invention comprises the arrangement of terminal plates on I the outer shell of the receptacle adapted to con- 20 tact with bared portions on the conductors, the contact being entirely independent of fastening means such as screws or the like.

Another feature of the invention comprises the formation of a screw shell contact with an extension preferably integral therewith, forming one of the terminals of the receptacle.

Still another feature of the invention com- I prises a screw shell, for use in a receptacle, having struck up therefrom a strip adapted to pass through the outer' shell of the receptacle and form a terminal for the receptacle. r

A further'feature of the invention comprises a lamp receptaclehaving a cap and outer shell portion with grooves arrangedtransverselybetween these portions for the passage of conductors, there being terminals in the passages against which wires are held by the cap.

' Other and further objects and features of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled 40 in the art upon consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is' disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however,

that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended v claims, with.

'50 present invention; 1

Figure 2 is a plan view of the main portion of the receptacle, showing the cap removed and conductors in position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main portion of the receptacle and associated parts;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing the interior of the cap, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the screw shell contact.

For the purpose of temporary decorations and for various other uses, it is convenient to have lamp receptacles which can'be attached to a pair of conductors and supported therefrom in numbers, so that a plurality of lamps may be festooned between supporting points. In particular where it is desired to make such receptacles-in small sizes it is convenient to be able to eliminate complicated terminal members which require the use of screws or solder for securing the wires to the terminals of the receptacles. The present invention comprises a novel receptacle having terminal members against which the wires merely bear by pressure resulting from the means retaining the cap in position. Such receptacles may be made of course in any size and from any desired material, but the present invention is disclosed, for convenience only, in connection with what is lmown as intermediate base receptacle. This is a new aisle-particularly designed for decorative ipikurposes, such as outdoor tree lighting and the Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the receptacle ,is-divided into two readily separable parts, that shown in Fig. 3 and that shown in Fig. 4. vThe main portion includes the outer shell 10, preferably molded from suitable insulating material such as'a phenol condensation product, having a'substantially closed bottom 11 and a flaring open end 12 through which is passed the screw shell contact 13. The center lamp contact 14 is provided in the form of a head for the screw 15 which also serves the purpose of retaining the cap 16 in place on the outer shell 10.

The recess 17 in the outer shell 10 has substantially cylindrical walls and a flat bottom against which the bottom 18 of the screw shell contact 13 is adapted to rest. This contact is provided with a large opening 19 through the bottom thereof for the passage of the central screw 15 which is insulated therefrom by being spaced from the walls of the opening 19 and having its head resting on a' large-centralinsulating washer 20 fitting against the inner face of the bottom 18 of the screw shell.

A portion of the material removed to formthe opening 19 is bent into a terminal strip 21 which is adapted to pass through the passage'22 in the bottom wall 11 of the outer shell. In order that.

I rotational stresses imparted to the screw shell by resisted by the strip 21, it is preferred to provide an additional non-rotatable connection between the screw shell and the outer shell, and this can be conveniently done by punching or stamping a projection 23 from the base 18 of the screw shell which is received in a suitable depression 24 molded in the bottom wall of the outer shell. When the center screw 15 is tightened, it will be seen that the washer 20 will hold the base of the screw shell tightly against the bottom of the outer shell and the walls of the recess 24 will 00- operate with the projection 23 to prevent relative rotation between the screw shell and the outer shell.

The outer wall of the bottom of the outer shell is provided with the transverse channels 25 and 2 parallel to each other, each substantially semicylindrical, and each closed off at the center by one of the abutments 28 and 29. The deepest portion of each channel is on a substantial level with the surface of the shoulder 30 which serves to position the cap. The passage 22 opens into the channel 25 along its inner edge in order that the strip 21 may pass through the base and have its outer end 31 bent down over the abutment 28, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This portion 31 serves two purposes, for in the first place it holds the screw shell temporarily in position in the outer shell during the assembly operation while the center screw and its washer are being positioned, and second, it forms one terminal for the lamp receptacle.

The second terminal is formed from a strip 32 of conducting material of substantially the same thickness as the strip 21 and is best shown in Fig. 2. It has an enlarged end perforated as shown at 33 to fit over the center screw 15 and rest on the surface 34 which forms a continuation of the top of the abutment 29. The strip 32 extends over this abutment in the same manner as the end 31 of the strip 21 extends over its abutment. The two terminals are thus substantially similarly disposed in respect to the center screw and on opposite sides thereof. A not 35 is received over the center screw 15 to secure the strip 32 in position and place it in good electrical contact with the screw. At the same time this holds the screw shell tightly in place, for the screw 15 passes loosely through the opening 36 in the bottom of the outer shell. The nut 35 is prevented from turning when the screw is tightened by its edges engaging the walls 35' around the surface 34. The completed lower portion of the receptacle is shown in Fig. 3.

The cap is preferably molded from the same material as the outer shell and is adapted to fit over and cover the end thereof, for which purpose it is providedwith the skirt portion 37 adapted to fit over the reduced portion of the end of the outer shell. Its flat inner wall 38 is spaced 'suificiently above the parts on the end of the outer shell to give them adequate clearance when the cap is in position, but projecting outwardly from this surface 38 are the abutments 39 so positioned that one cooperates with each abutment 28, 29 on the outer shell to such an extent that when the cap is fully positioned down over the end of the outer shell, these abutments 39 are almost in engagement with the terminals 31 and 32.

The skirt 37 on the cap has the semi-circular cut-outs 40 therein in alignment with the abutments and so positioned that they cooperate with the channels in the bottom of the outer shell to permit the. passage of conductors between the cap and the outer shell, one on either side of the center screw. As shown in Fig. 2, these conductors are insulated with material which will be of such diameter that it will be practically clamped in the channels between the cap and the outer shell, in order that the recepacle will be fixed in position on the conductor. A portion of this insulation 42 is removed, exposing the bare conductors 43 over a length greater than the width of the abutments, so that when the conductors are placed in the channels in the endof the outer shell the bare portions thereof will rest on the terminals 31 and 32. Then when the cap is positioned, the abutments 39 will press on the bare portions of the wire and force them tightly into engagement with their respective terminals. A nut 44 fitting in a recess 45 in the cap can then be turned down to cause tight engagement between the conductors and their respective terminals. The recess 45 may then be filled with wax, as shown, to water-proof the device and to insure against any looseness. It is preferred to use stranded conductors, since the strands will be spread out and better engage the terminals while at the same time will offer some resilience to the pressure of the abutments 39, and thus form better electrical contacts with the terminals.

The elimination of complicated means for connecting the conductors to the terminals allows a reduction in size of the receptacle and a consequent reduction in cost. At the same time, a neater appearing receptacle is provided and one which can be wired much more rapidly than the customary type and tive.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, an outer shell part, a. cap part for one end thereof, a transverse passage between said cap and shell of substantially circular cross-section, a block on one of said parts entering and partially closing said passage, a terminal on said block, an abutment on the other part to cooperate with said terminal to engage a conductor in said passage, and means to press said cap toward said shell.

2. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, an outer shell having a closed bottom, a screw shell therein, a pair of channels on the outside of said bottom, an abutment in each channel, a strip on said screw shell passing through said bottom and lying on one of said abutments, a center contact extending through said bottom, and means associated with said center contact lying on said other abutment.

3. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, an outer shell having a closed bottom, a screw shell therein, a pair of channels on the outside of said bottom, an abutment in each channel, a strip on said screw shell passing through said bottom and lying on one of said abutments, a center contact extending through said bottom, means associated with said center contact lying on said other abutmeht, a cap for said outer shell end, and a pair of abutments thereon adapted to cooperate with those on the shell to clamp conductors against said strip and means.

4. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, an outer shell of insulating material including a portion elevated above the end thereof, a screw shell therein, a substantially fiat terminal on the elevated portion of the outer shell, a center contact comprising a screw head, the shank of said screw which will be just as effecmeans outer shell of insulating material including aportion elevated above the end thereof. a screw shell therein, a substantially fiat-terminal on the elevated portion of the outer shell, a center contact comprising a screw head, the shank of said screw extending through the outer shell and electrically engaging said terminal, a completely enclosing cap for said terminal and outer shell end, means on said cap cooperating with said elevated portion to press a bared conductor into electrical engagement with said terminal. means in said cap and insulated thereby from other parts to engage said shank and retain the cap in position, said.

screw maintaining said screw shell in poaiti n. and a terminal integral with said shell and correspondinsly poutioned said first mentioned terminal.

MARIN. RUSSELL.

Ill 

